Crumb catcher

ABSTRACT

A stationary, Crumb Catcher, recessed refuse collector and receptacle apparatus which is compatible with common household and office, hand held sweeping, dusting, and collecting devices. The apparatus forms a recessed container with a raised lip for refuse collection and removal. The apparatus is easily mounted to a target, horizontal surface including floors, tables, and countertops.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

This invention relates generally to apparatus for refuse collection but specifically it relates to stationary, recessed refuse collectors and receptacles.

2. The Prior Art

BACKGROUND

Refuse collectors and receptacles that are used in the collection of materials typically are moveable and handheld. They engage target surface in a substantially parallel orientation through a sloped or contoured moveable collection receptacle to collect crumbs, dust or other refuse. Considering limitations of existing products a stationary collection receptacle apparatus was engineered to improve the body mechanics involved in refuse collection, decrease the strain on the back and increase the comfort and convenience in the collection of refuse and crumbs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a Crumb Catcher apparatus with a large bottom container and hinged cover panel.

FIG. 2 is a top and side view showing a hinged cover panel.

FIG. 3 is a front and side view showing a raised pocket handle portion of hinged cover top panel and a top panel stop portion of bottom container.

FIG. 4 is a second embodiment of the Crumb Catcher with a small bottom container and a clear, see-through, hinged cover panel.

DRAWINGS REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   10 Bottom container -   12 Continuous flange on bottom container -   14 Hinged top panel cover -   16 Hinged pin for top panel cover -   18 Exterior view top panel cover rest -   20 Raised pocket section of top panel cover -   22 Refuse collection opening of top panel cover -   24 Rounded small bottom container -   26 Clear, see-through top panel cover -   28 Interior view top panel cover stop

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Persons of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following description is illustrative only and not in any way limiting. Other modifications and improvements will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. In the following description, like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

FIG. 1 is a top and side view of a Crumb Catcher, floor mount receptacle apparatus with a large bottom container 10 and a top panel cover 14 pivotally attached.

FIG. 2 is a top and side view of a large bottom container 10 and a hinged, top panel cover 14 pivotally attached. The bottom container features a continuous flange 12 around the top edge of a front, first side, rear, second side, and bottom panel. The flange is formed in a thermoplastic mold and continuously and smoothly joined to the bottom container. The edges of said front, first side, rear, second side, and bottom panels are also formed continuously and smoothly in a thermoplastic mold. The bottom container is a one-piece construction with contours and rounded edges to optimize mold and tool useful life. The hinged, top panel cover 14 pivots about two points on the rear side to the left and right through a similarly formed downward protruding flange continuously and smoothly joined to the top panel cover. A suitable hinging method such as a fastener, rivet or pin is employed to create the pivot attachment 16.

FIG. 3 is a front and side view of a hinged cover top panel with a raised pocket 20 section centered laterally. The raised pocket 20 may serve as a refuse and crumb collection opening 22. Further, the raised pocket 20 may also serve as a grip or handle from which to remove the Crumb Catcher from a recessed mounted position within a floor, table or countertop surface. The hinged top panel cover 14 rests internally within continuous flange on the bottom container protruding inwardly to the left and right of a centerpoint on a front panel. The top panel cover stops 18 are shaped into a thermoplastic mold tool to create a one piece molded design. The resulting front panel 30 is raised in a portion centered laterally and extending to a smooth and continuous edge of the top panel stop 18 where the raised portion recesses on the exterior of the bottom container front panel to create the inwardly protruding top cover panel stop 18 feature of the interior of the bottom container.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the Crumb Catcher, floor mount receptacle apparatus and is a top, side and front view of a small bottom container 10 and a see-through, clear hinged top cover panel 26. The continuous flange 12 traversing the perimeter of the small bottom container includes a cut-out or trimmed rectangular section centered on a mid-point of the front panel 30 and symmetrical to the raised pocket 20 feature of the hinged, top cover panel 14 to accommodate convenient and comfort of collecting, storing and removing crumbs and refuse. 

1. A floor mount, stationary Crumb Catcher receptacle apparatus comprising: a bottom container formed of front, side, rear and bottom panels; pivotally attached to a top panel cover.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a means for refuse collection, storage and removal.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein a said floor mount Crumb Catcher is selected from the group consisting of a metal material, a composite material, and a thermoplastic material.
 4. A method for catching and removing refuse and crumbs, comprising the steps of: collecting said crumbs in a stationary, floor mounted bottom container, and removing said container for emptying refuse and crumbs.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said bottom container is molded in one piece with contoured edges; said contoured edges comprising a front panel molded in a rounded edge to a first side panel; said first side panel molded in a rounded edge to a rear panel; said rear panel molded in a rounded edge to a second side panel; said second side panel molded in a rounded edge to said front panel; said front, rear and side panels molded in a rounded edge to a substantially horizontal bottom panel; said bottom panel molded in a round edge to said front, rear and side panels.
 6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said bottom panel is curved from a centerpoint equidistant from said first side panel and said second side panel; said centerpoint representing a maximum depth of said bottom container and said side panels representing a minimum depth of said bottom container; said minimum depth symmetrical in depth of said first side panel and said second side panel.
 7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said bottom container is flanged at top of said front panel, first side panel, rear panel, and second side panel; said flange horizontally rounded on each respective corner and traversing the length of said front panel, first side panel, rear panel, and second side panel.
 8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said bottom container is flanged at top of said fron panel, first side panel, rear panel, and second side panel; said flange horizontally rounderd on each respective corner and traversing the length of said front panel, first side panel, rear panel, and second side panel; said flange is rectangularly trimmed an equidistant from centerpoint of said traversed length of said front panel and horizontally aligned to a raised portion of said hinged cover.
 9. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said bottom container is pivotally attached to a top panel hinged cover.
 10. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said bottom container is pivotally attached to a clear, see through, top panel hinged cover.
 11. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said hinged cover resting on a molded, top panel stop; said top panel stop traversing the vertical height of siad front panel and protruding inward from said front panel, continuously molded and returning to said first side panel, parallel to said front panel and said first side panel; said top panel stop traversing the vertical height of said front panel and protruding inward from said front panel, continuously molded and returning to said second side panel, parallel to said front panel and said second side panel; all corners smoothly rounded thereto in accordance with thermoplastic mold tool.
 12. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said hinged cover resting on a molded, top panel stop; said top panel stop traversing the vertical height of siad front panel and protruding inward from said front panel, continuously molded and returning to said first side panel, parallel to said front panel and said first side panel; said top panel stop traversing the vertical height of said front panel and protruding inward from said front panel, continuously molded and returning to said second side panel, parallel to said front panel and said second side panel; all corners smoothly rounded thereto in accordance with thermoplastic mold tool.
 13. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said hinged cover further comprising a raised pocket equidistant from a centerpoint of a traversed length of said front panel to an equal height, equidistant from said first panel and said second side panel; said raised pocket sloped downwardly and outwardly from a point above a centerpoint of said front panel to a point equidistant from said rear panel and traversing parallel thereto said rear panel.
 14. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said hinged cover further comprising a raised pocket equidistant from a centerpoint of a traversed length of said front panel to an equal height, equidistant from said first panel and said second side panel; said raised pocket sloped downwardly and outwardly from a point above a centerpoint of said front panel to a point equidistant from said rear panel and traversing parallel thereto said rear panel.
 15. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said hinged top panel cover is a clear, see through material consisting from among the group of thermoplastic, glass and plexi-glass.
 16. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein a hinge selected from the group consisting of fasteners, rivets and pins.
 17. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein a hinge selected from the group consisting of fasteners, rivets and pins. 